Avowed Composer Unveils Game’s Hidden Depths: It’s Not Just a Hero’s Journey!

by

Venus Theory, the composer, praises Avowed as a simplified RPG that provides a rich and satisfying gameplay experience. Obsidian Entertainment’s latest release (known for games like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds) is generally considered a stellar addition to Microsoft’s relatively sparse exclusive game library. Players are thrust into the world of Eora as an Imperial Envoy, tasked with uncovering the source of a soul-damaging plague. This game takes place in the same universe as Obsidian’s 2015 title, Pillars of Eternity, and its sequel, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

The game presents a steady stream of decisions for the player, including hidden options, thereby making each choice seem significant when wrapping up the narrative. To make players feel more connected to the universe they’re shaping, Obsidian enlisted composer, electronic musician, and content creator Venus Theory (Cameron Gorham). This creative individual tailored music that adapts with the world of Avowed, adjusting as the player’s character evolves.

In a conversation, ScreenRant chatted with Venus Theory about crafting music for the Godlike character in the game Avowed. The musician commended the game’s ability to attract both dedicated and less experienced gamers, and shared that a significant portion of the soundtrack was personally composed. Moreover, Venus Theory hinted at uncommon endings that might tempt players for additional playthroughs.

Avowed Was Always Made To Be “Actually Reasonable To Finish”

But That Doesn’t Make It An RPG-Lite

Venus Theory expressed his thoughts on being informed that Avowed would be a more confined yet non-linear gaming experience. He dislikes such games, referring to them as amusement park rides with predefined activities and sights to see before moving on. However, he found the game to offer a satisfying blend of elements for RPG enthusiasts.

In contrast to other extensive epic fantasy RPGs, Avowed offers compact maps, streamlined loot management, and swift travel options that make it plausible to complete within a couple of weekends if one is dedicated. This shift in pace is particularly appealing for those of us juggling adult obligations, as Venus Theory expressed, “It’s gratifying to discover a game where I can think, ‘Wow, I could purchase this and play it without feeling like I’m wasting money because I don’t have 200 hours to invest in a single game.’

Venus Theory Explains How His Music Evolves With The Story Of Avowed

The Composer Aimed To Find “The Sound Of What Consequence Is”

The composer, Venus Theory, successfully landed the position of a Declared Composer, partly due to this statement he made during his presentation: “What I find intriguing about the story is that it’s not a hero’s journey. It’s a hero’s enigma.” This unique perspective was reflected in the music, as the main character’s theme evolves as the mystery unfolds. He emphasized this by explaining, “If you make different decisions, the Envoy’s character theme actually changes based on the choices you make… it’s not just the Envoy theme, it’s your unique version of the Envoy theme.” In total, he mentioned there were approximately twenty variations.

The decisions made in the game don’t just impact the storyline of the Envoy; the Venus Theory aimed to delve into the “echoes of causality,” as they phrased it. This concept is manifested in the game through various morally complex and ambiguous situations that arise within the narrative. Essentially, their goal was to uncover “the most intriguing hues of emotional depth.” If we’re going to color our bathroom blue, there are countless shades of blue to choose from; which one offers the most complexity?

As you delve deeper into the mystery of the game, the music becomes increasingly unconventional and exotic. The composer emphasized that the soundtrack needed to evolve, starting with a more symphonic foundation before introducing more world instruments and experimental elements. Eventually, as the game progresses, we move away from traditional chord progressions altogether.

Avowed’s Music Is As Dense As The Game Itself

Thanks To An “Intelligently Designed” Music System

In discussing the musical aspect of Avowed, Venus Theory inadvertently captured a common theme among many positive reviews of the game: “[it] doesn’t require an enormous scale, but instead, it’s more about smart design.” The game’s maps are manageable and brimming with quests, loot, and adversaries. Similarly, the music is richly layered: “The grand orchestral tune you hear when exploring the initial region of the game, Dawnshore, and the subtle ambient version you listen to while casually wandering around, are actually the same song throughout.

The Venus Theory often composed songs for the game in multiple versions, ranging from five to seven distinct approaches. This was due to the complexity of the interactive music system within the game. Our goal was to create a deeply immersive and smooth musical experience, yet maintain intrigue throughout the estimated playtime, which spanned between 40 to 100 hours.

“How To Write Orchestral Music”: Venus Theory Discusses A Frantic Day One Google Spree

Yet The Composer Found Advantages In A Non-Orchestral Background

As a gamer immersed in the world of Avowed, let me tell you that the music here is something I’ve crafted from scratch. It’s a blend of grand orchestral swells and lengthy ambient soundscapes, all brought to life by yours truly – Venus Theory. Intriguingly, this symphony was born in a humble spare room, tucked away in my home. “I’ve filled this space with flutes, cellos, guitars, and an assortment of instruments that I might not typically own,” I shared, “And then, to add even more depth, I splurged on probably a dozen additional instruments.

Since the game’s music had a tight production schedule (the composer mentioned they only had approximately eight months), Venus Theory primarily relied on computers for their composition. This is because most of the work was sample-based, with a strong emphasis on experimental spectral synthesis and physical modeling synthesis.

In the course of his interaction with the computer, he also explored it differently: “On the first day of this project, I found myself asking questions like, ‘How do I compose orchestral music?’ and ‘What does orchestrating mean?’ Since I’m self-taught in music, these were my starting points. However, writing an orchestral fantasy is far from what I usually do.” The composer admitted, “I have a solid foundation in music theory, but this genre is way outside of my comfort zone.

The challenge was finding a way to leverage unconventional orchestral training: Venus Theory found the solution, as they put it: “Oftentimes, we focus on aspects such as instrumentation. However, since I relied on samples instead of playing instruments live, I had to think creatively about how to make the most out of limitations, like, ‘What unique possibilities can this offer that I couldn’t achieve in a live setting?’

He explained further: “Sometimes you have situations where five cellists perform one action, a synthesizer creates another, and a flautist does something unusual. In real time, I combine these elements based on the pressure applied when I play the keys. Live orchestration of such complexity would have consumed the entire budget and time for just five minutes of it. Therefore, sampling offers us unique possibilities that are beyond our reach or limitations with live musicians.

Some Instruments Were Even Totally Invented To Fit The Game’s World

The Track “Paradis” Is One Example

In certain instances, the music from Avowed was specifically designed, right down to the virtual instruments used. For example, in the track ‘Paradis’, the primary instrument is a computer-generated model that mimics a sitar-like sound. The choice and creation of this instrument were influenced by the location and time period depicted in the game, allowing for an educated guess about what kind of music this civilization might have played.

Venus Theory Teases An “Exceptionally Rare” Ending

Otherwise, The Composer Didn’t Say One Specific Ending Was Canon

Similar to numerous decision-driven games, Avowed boasts several concluding scenarios. Venus Theory shared, “I believe there are about five different endings in total.” However, it’s unclear which ending is considered canonical as the composer stated, “I’m unsure about the studio’s intentions.” One of these endings is relatively scarce, and since it offers a delightful twist, it’s unlikely to be the canonical one. The composer expressed interest in seeing if players will discover this unique conclusion, as it was one of their favorite musical compositions to create.

Achieving that particular ending relies heavily on a precise sequence of dialogue options, as Venus Theory explained: “There are numerous specific decisions you must make to approach it closely, and ultimately, there’s one crucial dialog check that either succeeds or fails, deciding whether you receive it.” He went on to add: “The endings are extremely similar in many aspects. Musically, what I did was make them identical at the beginning… what happens rarely is it starts identically and then ends suddenly and dramatically.

You might be considering another round of gameplay, as there’s a chance you could unlock an alternative ending this time. Remember, during your previous playthrough, you didn’t quite succeed in that dialogue exchange, which means you missed out on some additional content – possibly the secret ending.

Additionally, don’t forget to review our conversation with Carrie Patel, Game Director at Avowed, and Berto Ritger, their Region Director.

Read More

2025-02-27 05:50